A New York Times article written by Penelope Green, dated August 9, 2017, highlights the growing problem of anger within our society and the creative<\/em>, yet concerning way some people are attempting to let the anger go<\/em>.<\/p>\n Research shows that\u00a0venting anger doesn't extinguish the flame,<\/em> instead it increases physical arousal and keeps anger alive<\/strong>[1]. Despite the research, seeking ways to express anger continues to grow in popularity. The demand for these anger rooms<\/em> highlights the immaturity of our culture who seek momentary relief or catharsis (that in the long run perpetuates and grows the anger), rather than long-term solutions.<\/p>\n The question is not what is right or what is wrong, but rather what happens (not if, but...) when the catharsis of beating and destroying TV's, computers and mannequins (representing people) are no longer enough to relieve the pain?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Smashing things may not seem at first blush to be a winning idea to wrap a business around. Since March, however, nearly 1,500 people have shown up to break housewares, electronics and furniture at the Wrecking Club, two reinforced rooms in the basement of a building in the garment district of Manhattan.<\/p>\n Many of this number are couples looking for something more piquant than the usual date-night fare, said Tom Daly, the Wrecking Club\u2019s proprietor. But rage is not confined to matrimony and other romantic unions, as Mr. Daly has also found.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the cool thing about addressing an instinct,\u201d he said on a recent steamy afternoon. \u201cEveryone\u2019s got it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wrecking Club is not the first rage-based enterprise. Last fall, politics drove the business at the Anger Room, which opened in Dallas in 2008. Clients showed up by the hundreds to batter human effigies of Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump. Three Trump mannequins and two Clintons were utterly destroyed, according to the owner, Donna Alexander, and had to be replaced.<\/p>\n The Rage Room, which first opened in Toronto in 2015, now has licensees in Budapest, Singapore, Australia and Britain. \u201cWe\u2019ve helped a lot of angry couples,\u201d said Stephen Shew, the owner. (His date-night package, $70 for two electronic devices and 20 items of crockery, from lawn gnomes to ceramic vases, is wildly popular on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n For those who would rather act out at home, the online marketplace presents an armory\u2019s worth of what are known as therapy tools. Foam anger bats, for example, start at about $10. At the high end, a pair of well-padded, cherry-red canvas, German-made, jumbo encounter bats cost about $210 and look like something the performance artist Leigh Bowery might have designed as a special kind of evening wear.<\/p>\n [..]<\/p>\n Most people are hesitant at first,\u201d Mr. Daly said. \u201cThey\u2019re a little timid. They say, \u2018Can I break that?\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018Yeah, you can break that.\u2019 Usually after the first hit, they go crazy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n [..]<\/p>\n From my very humble and limited education, I think that part of what\u2019s going on here is that breaking stuff gives people back their edge,\u201d he said. \u201cIt lets people take their power back. Imagine getting fired. It sucks. It\u2019s defeating. Or you got dumped, or you didn\u2019t get into the college you wanted, or imagine whatever it is that makes you feel weak. This is a place where you can get back your power.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Source: https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2017\/08\/09\/style\/anger-rooms-the-wrecking-club.html<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Beating and trashing TV's,\u00a0computers, dishes and mannequins may be fun in the moment, however, we need to question whether this physical act really elevates the stress and the root cause of anger or merely masks its effects momentarily? Do places like the \"Wrecking Club\" help people solve the problem, or just provide another \"anger management\" tool to alleviate the symptom, instead of treat the dis-ease<\/em>?<\/p>\n \u201cAngry people are not always wise.\u201d <\/em><\/strong> [1]\u00a0Bushman, B. J. (2002). Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding.\u00a0Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28<\/em>, 724\u2013731.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Informational Insights<\/h2>\n
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\nJANE AUSTEN<\/p>\n